Entgegnentgegen

Entgegnentgegen is a neologism used in German rhetoric and discourse analysis to denote a specific reply strategy in argumentative exchanges. It describes a response that directly addresses and counters a counter-argument presented by an interlocutor, effectively a counter-counter-argument.

Etymology and formation: The term is formed from entgegnen, meaning to retort or answer, combined with entge­gen (against) as a productive prefix in German morphology. The resulting compound highlights an escalation in argumentative move: a rebuttal of a rebuttal. It is not part of standard dictionaries and is primarily found in contemporary discussions of rhetoric and debate practice.

Usage and scope: Entgegnentgegen appears mainly in German-language rhetoric texts, teaching materials, and online discussions about argumentation. It is used as a descriptive label for a specific strategic pattern rather than as an instruction, and it remains somewhat informal and scholarly rather than institutionalized.

Example: In a debate, a speaker presents a factual objection, the opponent counters, and the speaker then offers entgegnentgegen—a direct counter to that counterargument, restoring the original argumentative pressure.

Variations and related concepts: Related ideas include entgegnen (to retort), Widerlegung (refutation), Gegenargument (counterargument), and Gegenrede (counter-speech). The term is sometimes discussed alongside metarhetorical devices such as digressions, standoffs, or argumentative loops.

See also: Entgegnen; Widerlegung; Gegenargument; Debatte.